ALGARVE CAR HIRE - NEWS

First flight from Uk to Beja in Alentejo

The first direct charter flight from the UK to the Alentejo landed at the brand new Beja Airport last Sunday with 49 passengers – maximum capacity for the Embraer 145 aircraft – on board, but only four of them were actual tourists.

British Midland International (BMI) flight BD 1234, operated by travel company Sunvil Discovery, landed at Beja four minutes ahead of schedule, with 49 passengers on board. It was the first of 22 weekly charter flights between the Alentejo and London Heathrow.

Despite carrying a full load there were actually only four real tourists on board. The remaining passengers were made up of journalists, travel agents, Sunvil executives, and London-based representatives of the Portuguese Tourist Board.

Sunvil Discovery agents are waiting for reactions from the inaugural batch of passengers to assess how successful the route may be. A spokesperson said they hoped the first package-holidaymakers would help “dispel any concerns” and that demand for the destination would grow over coming months.

Flights between Heathrow and Beja will be taking place until 9 October.

Meanwhile, according to Lusa News Agency, Irish low-cost airline Ryanair has expressed its interest in striking a deal with the new airport.

A source from the airline told Lusa: “If Beja Airport has a proposal to present to Ryanair to consolidate [tourist] growth in the Alentejo, we are always available to receive such a proposal here in Dublin.”

The source did add, however, that it was “in negotiations with more than 70 airports throughout Europe that want Ryanair to increase its routes, tourism and jobs in their territories.”